Trump 'Felt Foolish' Engaging in Rhetoric With NKorea

President Donald Trump answers questions about the summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un during a press conference at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore. (Wong Maye-E/AP)

President Donald Trump said he "felt foolish" engaging in the name-calling and rhetoric with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the months leading up to their historic agreement, but said without it, "we wouldn't have been here."

In other words, Trump's "little rocket man" and "fire and fury" comments - among others - were all part of his strategy to get Kim to the table, the president told Sean Hannityin an interview that will air Tuesday at 9 p.m. on Hannity's show on Fox News.

"I think without the rhetoric we wouldn’t have been here," Trump told Hannity.

"Other administrations … had a policy of silence. If they said something very bad and very threatening and horrible, just don't answer. That's not the answer. That's not what you have to do," Trump said.

"So I think the rhetoric, I hated to do it, sometimes I felt foolish doing it, but we had no choice," Trump told Hannity.

President Donald Trump said he "felt foolish" engaging in the name-calling and rhetoric with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the months leading up to their historic agreement, but said without it, "we wouldn't have been here."